The Invention Addict 12 Step Program to Invent—Going from Inspiration to Innovation.
This is a series of posts on the 12 steps how to invent a product. A DIY class for Inventors.
The ninth step is COMMUNICATION– I mentioned this in my last two posts. There are three elements to consider:
- Who are you going to contact?
- How are you going to piqué their interest?
- How can you succinctly convey you product pitch without hopping on a plane and being there?
WHO
The who is easy. Search Google products or Amazon. You can also shop and write down the names of companies that sell in a similar market. I take note books to Spencer’s and Nordstrom and write down who’s making and selling similar products. You may even find the website URL on the packaging.
WHET THEIR APPETITE
Send a short e-mail. Don’t say you are an inventor, you are a “product developer”.
This is what I recently wrote:
Dear _____,
I’m a product developer with 17 years product development experience and six issued US patents. I have developed a design for an innovative _____ product that I would like to discuss with you.
If your company is interested in licensing intellectual property, I would entertain an exclusive license to your firm.
Please let me know if you would like to continue this discussion and we can sign a two-way non-disclosure agreement.
Regards,
Stephen Bozzone
Inspiration2Innovation LLC
Research Triangle, North Carolina
SELL SHEET
I covered the mechanics of this last post. Here the design element. I found a template that I like. Then my wife worked her design magic and tweaked the format.
Summary
Here are the 12 steps to invent a product:
1. Realization
2. Frustration
3. Ideation
4. Exploration
5. Investigation
6. Simulation
7. Productization
8. Confirmation
9. Communication
10. Conversation
11. Negotiation
12. Celebration
Thank you for reading. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Let me know what you think.
